The Original Way: Back to the Bible
So-called "Christianity" has gone through many levels of corruption from the original message taught in the 1st century.
This process of corruption in the Church was often gradual, such as when philosophical ideas slowly trickled in, and sometimes rapid, such as when Constantine in the 4th century claimed the name of Christ.
It has been said that when the "Good News" was first preached in Judea and Galilee it involved a spiritual covenant relationship between God and the believers through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-29). Then, when Christianity spread to Greece it became an idea, when it came to Rome it became an institution, and finally, when it came to America, it became an enterprise!
"They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them."
1 John 4
This simple account contains a great deal of truth. While there are many ways we can characterize the falling away, the essence of what happened was that followers of Christ turned their backs on the clear, true and divinely-inspired teachings of scripture, and began to rely increasingly on the teachings of fallible men, whether this involved human philosophy or political expediency or the present-day fleshly quest to attract the most people by "worldy" means and techniques.
The gospel given by God through Jesus Christ was pure and undefiled until "theologians", philosophers and Gnostics began to confuse it with their abstractions. Likewise, just as Jesus and his apostles foretold, The Church (really The Ecclesia or "assembly of called out ones") was on a good course until it was taken over by the establishment and changed from the Body of Christ into an institution. The modern Mega-Church mentality, with its unspiritual obsession for business model approaches, is just as destructive in veiling the true teaching of the Holy Bible to the unsuspecting member or attendee. An understanding of the call of the original gospel will shine the light on these statements as being true.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires..."
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Seek God, His Way
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God..."
1 John 4
As we not only have the infallible testimony of the Bible, but also the convincing witness of history, we are without excuse before God. The evidence is there for those who would seek it. We should all strive to return to the original form of worship, the covenant relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ. We need to accept the one, true faith given to us by God in His word. Biblical believers must fellowship with one another, worshipping God "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23, 24).
And so, let us continue to turn to the Bible, to understand the original, true teaching and to “contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” Jude 3.
"Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7-14
The Seattle Christadelphians warmly welcome and encourage you to attend any of our
weekly meetings and Bible studies.